Air pollution is a real issue both nationally and across the globe which is why the UK is seeking innovative solutions and campaigns/movements like ‘National Clean Air Day’ to tackle and increase awareness about the problem.  National Clean Air Day seeks to provide the public with more information on what they can do to lessen their impact on air quality and how best to avoid it where possible.

This year, Clean Air Day is on 21st June. 

Events programme for 21st June in University of Birmingham(UoB)

On 21st June there will be a range of activities at my University to get involved with including:

·         Take a ride in UoB’s Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and learn more about the groundbreaking research behind it.

·         Learn about research taking place across the University to combat air pollution including the fuel cell technology behind the hydrogen vehicle.

·         Have a go on an electric bike.

·         Find out more about UoB’s transformative Green Heart project and try their VR experience.

·         Get yourself a second hand bike - recycled from abandoned bikes on campus and support Birmingham Bike Project.

·         Test drive an Electric Vehicle available.

·         Participate in the bike share scheme. 

·         Dr Bike service from Urban Cycles - bring your bike along for a checkup.

How you can get involved?

·         You could run an awareness-raising event.

·         Do you usually drive to work or study?  Why not leave the car at home and try cycling, walking or public transport? 

·         If you to drive, why not do car share or car pool to save on petrol.

·         Plant trees.

·         Why not spread the word on social media?  #CleanAirDay.

If you can't do any of the above, why not visit the Clean Air Day website which has wealth of information about avoiding air pollution and reducing your own impact.

The Clean Air Day campaign is not just for one day of the year.

What UK achieved with Clean Air Day 2018?

What a day! What a campaign! The Clean Air Day celebration and impact report documents the 2018 achievements of the nation's biggest air pollution campaign -  how it generated hundreds of events around the country, mobilised thousands of people, and took the media by storm.

On 21 June 2018, thousands of people took part in events to raise awareness of an urgent public health issue that’s up there with cancer, heart disease and diabetes – air pollution.  

Community groups, schools, local authorities, businesses, hospitals, universities and individuals  you, laid on a whole host of activities to make Clean Air Day this year a huge public moment. 

At least 550 events happened on the day, while some 1,750 broadcast and press items were generated by the campaign. On 21 June itself, #cleanairday trended on Twitter for eight hours. 

Before and after opinion polls indicate that public understanding of key air pollution issues increased over the period of the campaign. And more people started doing things to cut air pollution.

The National Clean Air Day 2018 was such a success, while reminding everyone that there is still much to do in the fight to tackle air pollution.

Clean Air Day is about helping communities to beat one of the most pressing public health issues of our time-Air Pollution.

Isn’t it an iconic movement by the UK?

Sources/References:

https://www.cleanairday.org.uk/pages/category/get-involved-in-national-clean-air-day